The Demon Lord’s Return

The battle instantly became white-hot.

A massive wolf pack besieged the night combat squad of a dozen or so people.

In a flash, the situation became precarious.

The squad members’ battle qi, mana, and various techniques intersected with the Shadowmoon Demon Wolves’ magic, and the scene descended into chaos.

At the same time, she keenly caught a brief, momentary adjustment in Garen’s aura from behind, as he tried to get a more precise lock on the battle situation amidst the interference from the intense fighting and the demon wolves’ auras.

‘Now!’

The next moment, without hesitation, Vivian quietly sent out a wisp of demon lord’s mana, refined to the extreme yet as hidden as a silk thread, hooking onto the rapidly approaching giant wolf.

It couldn’t even be called a wolf anymore.

The alpha wolf that had reached the squad was like a giant bear, sending the warrior who came to block it flying with one swipe!

It then lunged towards the center of the squad, right where Vivian was!

The moment the alpha wolf pounced, an expression of extreme terror appeared on Vivian’s face, and she let out a short cry: “Ah—!”

As if she had been scared out of her wits, she “stumbled,” her body “lost its balance,” and she fell towards it.

And then, the giant wolf, without any politeness, bit down on Vivian and carried her directly out of the center of the squad!

“Miss Nannali!”

“Damn it! Don’t get distracted, she’s a goner!”

In an instant, cries of alarm erupted from within the squad, but the number of attacking demon wolves was simply too great, and Barton’s team members had their hands full.

And that was just perfect.

Vivian, “bitten” in its mouth, was quite comfortable.

She let it carry her away and, under her precise control, her aura, like a snuffed-out candle flame, rapidly weakened and dimmed, until in everyone’s perception, including the trailing Hero, Garen—it completely vanished into nothingness.

“Death” was declared complete.

Thus, in Garen’s perception, Vivian’s life had ended normally and smoothly.

The alpha Shadowmoon Demon Wolf carried Vivian in its mouth, speeding through the shadows, silently leaving the chaotic battlefield.

After a while, it finally stopped and slightly loosened its massive jaws, then seemed to obediently lie down beside her with its head lowered.

With that, Vivian landed lightly from its jaws and calmly raised her eyes.

In the surrounding shadows, countless pairs of blood-red eyes suddenly lit up, as if she were facing Hell itself.

Trolls clad in rock armor, ogres with bared tusks, treants entwined with thorny vines—they emerged from the darkness, with greedy drool, bloodthirsty growls, and vengeful fury, slowly closing in.

“Good, finally caught a prisoner.”

“Tear her apart! Interrogate her for human intelligence!”

“Her flesh… smells very special…”

The demonic beasts lurking in the shadows had their blood-red eyes instantly erupt with greed and ferocity.

Low growls rumbled in their throats as they began to close in with heavy yet swift steps.

Their gazes fell on the seemingly weak woman, Vivian, as if they were looking at a delicious meal, and at the same time, an object to vent their anger upon.

“Kneel.”

Two words, as light as a feather, yet heavier than a mountain.

Vivian merely glanced at the demonic beasts, and in the next moment, an indescribable, absolute pressure originating from the very pinnacle of life erupted like a volcano that had been dormant for a hundred million years!

This was not a violent energy blast, but a more fundamental submission and absolute pressure from a superior being, inscribed into their very bloodline instincts.

It was the most essential dominion of a monarch over their subjects!

In an instant, the once ferocious-looking demons, as if struck by an invisible hammer, fell to their knees!

“Gah—!!!”

A piercing scream, distorted beyond recognition, was stuck in their throats.

The massive bodies of the demons instantly went rigid!

All the ferocity and greed in their eyes were instantly crushed by the primal fear of a predator at the top of the food chain, a fear that originated from the deepest parts of their bloodline!

It was an instinct that made even their souls scream to kneel!

Thud!

A series of dull thuds sounded as one powerful demonic beast after another involuntarily fell to its knees, their hard knees even creating shallow pits in the ground!

Their massive heads were pressed firmly against the ground, their rock-like bodies trembling violently, their throats only able to produce low, broken whimpers of abject humility.

The Demon Lord’s pressure rendered all the demons completely immobile.

This was a Demon Lord.

Vivian stood before them, the hem of her clothes moving without a wind.

Her scarlet eyes now coldly looked down upon the humbly prostrated demonic beasts at her feet.

There was no anger in her gaze, no killing intent, only the natural indifference of looking down upon dust.

Then, she withdrew her Demon Lord’s pressure.

“Rise.”

“M-My Lord!”

Just a few seconds later, Vivian withdrew her mana suppression, and the many demons pressed to the ground regained their freedom of movement.

They raised their heads in fear and trepidation, instantly understanding that they had not encountered some weak human adventurer, but a Demon Lord!

Vivian once again swept her cold gaze over the crowd.

At the same time, her hand rested lightly on the head of the alpha Shadowmoon Demon Wolf, which was already lying quietly on the ground, its head lowered in submission, stroking its soft fur.

The moment they had approached, Vivian had used her terrifying demon lord’s mana to control it.

As it carried Vivian away from the squad, it had already learned her identity and, following her wishes, had brought her out of the human-controlled area and back to the demon front line.

And this also signified its submission and renewed allegiance—in fact, this Shadowmoon Demon Wolf pack was originally one of the wolf packs under Vivian’s command.

“I am the Demon Lord of Evernight, Vivian. You who were once my former subordinates, are there any among you who are willing to follow me once more?”

At this moment, the moonlight pierced through the thick clouds and fell precisely on Vivian, who was surrounded by the demons.

The soft moonlight illuminated her long hair, which flowed with a dark purple luster, adding a touch of dangerous beauty to her at this moment.

“M-My Lord!”

“Is it really My Lord!?”

“By the Evernight! It’s My Lord!”

The dozens of demons were stunned for a moment, then finally reacted, their voices filled with surprise as they knelt on the ground!

This time, it was not submission to the pressure of a superior being, but a loyal prostration of allegiance.

And at this moment, the succubus Lunai, who had been following and lurking beside Vivian, reappeared.

She looked at the surrounding demons and also showed a joyful expression.

Clearly, there were many familiar faces among them.

As for the other demonic beasts that had not originally been under Vivian’s command, after exchanging glances, they also chose to kneel in submission one by one.

“Very good.”

Vivian nodded in satisfaction.

“Gentlemen—” Her voice suddenly rose. “Follow me, and let us reclaim the throne!”

“We are willing to die for Your Highness!”

The demonic beasts’ roars of allegiance exploded in the dense forest, announcing the return of the Demon Lord of Evernight.